Saturn VUE DW1738 vs. DW1762

Thanks to Brian Sieminski from Cascade Auto Glass in Boise, Idaho for bringing me this problem with the Saturn VUE windshield. According to Brian, the only glass part he can get for the Saturn VUE is the DW1762 which is the second generation rain-sensing windshield for that model. It supposedly replaces the DW1738 which was only used on the 2008 vehicle model. The problem is that they do not interchange in a couple of ways: the mirror bracket is a different style and the rain sensor is positioned to the right of the mirror and not underneath.

The mirror bracket on the DW1762 is the aluminum-pad style where the mirror slips off; we’ll call that the GM style. The DW1738 has the spring-retaining type of pad like the Mitsubishi pads. Removing these pads and interchanging them are very difficult because of the mounting adhesive used on black mirror frits or on the third visor matrix pattern. In addition, the mirror pad is mounted five inches lower on the DW1762 than on the DW1738.

The rain sensor on the DW1762 is directly to the right of the mirror bracket (see above) but is directly underneath the mirror bracket on the DW1738 (see below).

Though you may be able to get the sensor to mount to the 1762, the interior decorative cover will never reattach due to the mis-positioning of the units.

FW3102 Mirror Brackets

Brian had another problem with the 2010-13 Subaru Outback and Legacy models, FW3101 without a rain sensor, and FW3102, with a rain sensor. It seems that Subaru made changes to these two windshields and didn’t tell anyone. Both these windshields have two different designs, but only one NAGS number. The latest design has the mirror pads about six inches from the top edge while the original design had the mirror pads a little over seven inches from the top edge. Subaru themselves didn’t know they had a problem until Brian brought it up to them and showed them the difference.

Originally, the vehicles equipped with an electrochromic mirror had the higher mounted pad and those vehicles without the electrochromic mirror had the lower mounted pad. The problem for us in the aftermarket is that all of the FW3101/2 windshields ordered from our distributors have the lower pad positioning. This means that the wiring needed for electrochromic mirrors will not be long enough to allow for the mirrors to attach to the lower pad and allow the wire cover to fit.

Here is the reality: all aftermarket glass will probably have the lower bracket placement and all of the dealer-purchased parts will have the higher mounted placement due to internal correction of the problem. If you have a vehicle that has the electrochromic mirror and you purchase your glass from an aftermarket manufacturer and/or distributor, the wiring can be attached if the wiring retainer is released above the headliner but the wire cover will not fit properly because the wiring harness is extended.

Note: All Carlex, the OE supplier, FW03101/2 windshields now have pads that are at the higher 2013 model year position (which is about 5 mm lower than the original position for vehicles equipped with electrochromic mirrors). Therefore these can be used to backfit all the way to 2010 model year regardless of whether the vehicle was equipped with the electrochromic or the standard rear view mirror.